Dodge Dakota Complaints

6,628 consumer complaints on file.

#10191704May 25, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR (MANUALLY OPERATED)FROZEN IN POSITION. ATTEMPTS TO ADJUST RESULTED IN CRACKED MIRROR GLASS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191688May 24, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
THE RECALL ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND NOW AS A RESULT OF TEH SERVICE DEPT ERRO MY CAR IS NOW OVER-HEATINGA ND TEHY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY AND REPAIR THE ISSUE, THEY STATED IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TEH RECALL EVEN THE IT CLEARLY STATED THAT TEH CLUSTER OF MY VEHICLE COULD OVER HEAT AND RESULT IN AN INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191361May 21, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 93,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189746May 4, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, BALL JOINTS, AND TIRE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED THE REPAIR. APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS LATER, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 85,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189804May 4, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
I HAVE UPPER BALL JOINTS GOING OUT ON MY 2003 DODGE DAKOTA..AND THE DODGE DEALER IN FARGO ND SAYS MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT RECALLED. BUT ON YOUR SITE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THEM? I WANT CLARIFICATION, OF WHY MINE HAS NOT NOT RECALLED TOO? PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH MY INTERNET ADDRESSES. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10189417May 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 DODGE DAKOTA. HE HEARD A CHATTER NOISE AND THE LIFTER NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LIFTER FAILED IN THE CAM SHAFT WHICH AFFECTED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188917April 26, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKING A HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS A SEVERE SHUTTER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. THEY DID, HOWEVER, TURN THE FRONT ROTORS. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE REAR BRAKES. I CAN TELL WHEN THE FRONT HAS A PROBLEM. IT IS A DIFFERENT FEEL. MY 2001 DAKOTA HAD EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM WITH IT EITHER. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NORMAL. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES IN THE REAR ARE WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM. THEY KNOW OF NO WAY TO FIX IT. I PUT IN THE "NUMBER OF FAILURES" THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 481 FAILURES, SINCE THAT IS HOW LONG I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE AND IT OCCURS DAILY. IT WAS EXTREMELY RARE FOR IT TO HAPPEN UNTIL IT HAD ABOUT 15,000 MI. ON IT AND I CAN WORK THE BRAKES AND GET IT TO STOP IF I DON'T HAVE TO STOP FAST. I HAD THE WORST ISSUE THIS MORNING COMING TO WORK. I HAD A VEHICLE RUN A STOP SIGN AND I HAD TO DO A PANIC STOP FROM 65 MPH AND THE TRUCK SHOOK SO BAD I DID NOT THINK IT WAS GOING TO STOP. I HAVE JUST GOTTEN FRUSTRATED AND LIVED WITH THIS PROBLEM, SINCE I GET TOLD IT IS JUST NORMAL ANTI-LOCK BRAKES............NOT LIKELY!!!!! ALSO, I NOTICED THERE IS A DAIMLER/CHRYSLER SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. IT IS #0500405 DATED 05/10/2006. SINCE MY LAST EXPERIENCE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I HAVE JUST STAYED AWAY, SO I HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD ABOUT THIS SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188470April 20, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
BOUGHT 2002 SLT QUAD CAB DAKOTA NEW FROM DEALERSHIP. FIRST EXPERIENCED TRUCK STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON ROADWAYS (VERY DANGEROUS!), WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. SOMETIMES, IT WOULD ALSO STALL IF PUT INTO DRIVE/REVERSE FROM A PARKED POSITION. HAD TRUCK TOWED AT LEAST TWICE, BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT HOME BECAUSE IT WAS STALLING TOO MANY TIMES. TOOK IN TO DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. SINCE ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T ON, DIAGNOSTIC TEST COULDN'T DETERMINE PROBLEM READILY; PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. OVER THE COURSE OF THE FIRST TWO VISITS TO DEALERSHIP, I HAD TUNE-UP, THROTTLE BODY CLEANED, NEW DISTRIBUTOR PLATE, NEW OIL PAN GASKET. BY THE THIRD TIME, I HAD THE ENTIRE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPLACED: THE "BRAIN" OF THE TRUCK, AS THE MECHANIC PUT IT TO ME. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WHEN A BRAND-NEW TRUCK IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD; THE "BRAIN" SHOULD NOT DIE THAT SOON. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY IF THE PCM/STALLING PROBLEM IS CONSIDERED "CHARACTERISTIC." ALL OF THIS COST ME ABOUT $2,500. THE QUALITY OF THIS TRUCK HAS NOT, AND STILL DOES NOT, MEET MY EXPECTATIONS. THE TRUCK IS TOO YOUNG TO BE HAVING THESE SORTS OF PROBLEMS. I EXPECT TO PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO A 10 YEAR-OLD TRUCK, NOT A FOUR YEAR-OLD TRUCK. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THE TRUCK NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I WILL OUTLINE THAT IN SEPARATE COMPLAINT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187709April 12, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE HAS GONE OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME CAUSING HOT COOLANT TO BE LEAKED ON MY FEET IN THE CAB AND FOGGING THE WINDOWS SEVERELY WHILE DRIVING. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR DAKOTA. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT ONCE YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN FREQUENTLY WITH NO FINAL FIX. I FEEL THIS IS DANGEROUS AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A PERMANENT FIX. MY FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 58K MILES AND NOW MY SECOND IS AT 69K. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186710April 2, 2007
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN SAFETY RECALL # 04V59600 DUE TO THE VIN ,SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DODGE DURANGO. ON MARCH 16, 2007, WHILE DRIVING AT 0-5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND NEAR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CLUNKING SOUND INCREASED, AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 87,000.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186798April 2, 2007
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY GOES ON AND OFF. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCHING ONLINE, IT LOOKS LIKE THE CLOCKSPRING IS DEFECTIVE. APPARENTLY THE AIR BAG WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT DODGE REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. HOWEVER, THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER YEAR DODGE TRUCKS - BUT NOT THE 2001 DAKOTA, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BUILT AT THE SAME FACTORIES IN THE SAME YEAR AS THE OTHER MODELS THAT DID GET ISSUED A RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186524March 29, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
ON 3/25, MY TRUCKS INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. ALL OF MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY ODOMETER QUIT WORKING. IT SAID "NO BUS". I CONTACTED SAVANNAH DODGE ABOUT THE ISSUE ON 3/26, 7:45 AM. AN APPOINTMENT FOR 2:00 WAS SCHEDULED. UPON DROPPING THE TRUCK OFF, I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK WOULD BE DIAGNOSED AND READY FOR ME THE NEXT MORNING. MY RECEIPT ALSO STATES THAT THE PROMISED COMPLETION DATE WOULD BE 3/27. ON 3/27, I CALLED SAVANNAH DODGE AT 2:00 PM TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF MY TRUCK. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE MEMBER THAT ** WAS OUT ON LUNCH AND THAT MY CALL WOULD BE RETURNED. MY CALL WAS NEVER RETURNED SO I CALLED BACK AT 3:00 P.M. ** TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE HAVING A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING OF MY STEREO SYSTEM. SHE ASKED WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED. I TOLD HER THAT IT WAS INSTALLED 1.5 YEARS AGO, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS AFTERMARKET SPEAKER WIRES WERE SPLICED INTO A FACTORY WIRING HARNESS AND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED OVER TIME. SHE ALSO SAID THAT THE ONLY FIX WAS TO REPLACE IT WITH THE ORIGINAL FACTORY HARNESS. I THEN TOLD THEM TO GO AHEAD AND FINISH THE JOB AND I WOULD BE UP TO PICK IT UP THAT EVENING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS NOT AN OPTION. THEY HAD TO WAIT ON PARTS (NEW FACTORY HARNESS) TO ARRIVE AND IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE 3/28 (ONE DAY AFTER THE PROMISED DATE). AFTER RECEIVING THE TRUCK AND LOOKING AT THE BILL, IT STATES NO NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS USED AND THEY REWIRED THE AFTERMARKET WIRES. I CALLED AND QUESTIONED ** ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HE BECAME FURIOUS. HE TOLD ME THAT SAVANNAH DODGE WOULD NEVER SERVICE MY VEHICLE AGAIN AND I WOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO STEP ON THEIR PROPERTY AGAIN. AFTER DRIVING IN MY VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE OFF, HOWEVER THERE ARE THREE NEW PROBLEMS. THE RADIO DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. ALSO, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULDN'T BE FIXED. ALSO, ALL OF MY SPARE FUSES ARE MISSING. THIS IS A THEFT ISSUE, AND ** DID IN FACT TELL ME OVER THE PHONE THAT THEY TOOK MY FUSES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10186017March 23, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
2004/DODGE TRUCK/DAKOTA, REAR CALIPERS FAILED BY SEIZING. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THEM BEFORE EVEN REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS. TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK WAS 45,518.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185742March 21, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TL*-THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS 1996 DODGE DAKOTA HAS HAD 2 REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LATCH IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND THE SPRINGS CONTINUE TO FALL FROM IT. HE STATED THAT HE HAS TO REPLACE THIS AGAIN AND FELT THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT USED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185757March 21, 2007
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE MATERIAL ON THE SEATBELT HAS RIPPED IN THE CENTER. THE SEATBELT WAS NOT IN USE AT THE TIME IT RIPPED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE SEATBELT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 67000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185685March 20, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DAKOTA. THE HEADLIGHTS AND AUTOMATIC LOCKS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE INOPERABLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. TWO MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MECHANIC THEN STATED THAT THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MODULE WAS REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE REPAIR NO OTHER FAILURES OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER REGARDING RECALL #02V322000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 60,000.*AK UPDATE 05/10/07*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185515March 19, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEALING NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT SPINDLES ON HIS VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC INSERTED A BOLT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE CALIPER ATTACHED TO THE SPINDLE. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH LATER HE HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE BRAKE PADS AND NOTICE THAT THE PADS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WERE WORN. THE CONTACT REPLACED FRONT ROTORS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS AND BOLTS. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY OTHER OCCURRENCES SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 123,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185451March 18, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT PREMATURLY. ROTOR WEAR INDICATES THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE CALIPER PRIMARILY APPLYING PREASSURE FROM THE PISTON SIDE WHILE THE OPOSING SIDE SEEMS TO BIND. REAR BRAKES ARE STILL ORIGINAL WHILE FRONT HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185342March 16, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
BOUGHT THE VECHILE USED WITH 5500 MILES ON IT AND HAVE HAD IT BACK TO SERVICE 5 TIMES NOW FOR REAR BRAKE DRUM WARPAGE. IT BEGINS TO HAVE A VERY NOTICABLE SHUTTER STOPPING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS(55-60 MPH). 1ST TIME THRU RESURFACED DRUMS.2,3 AND 4TH TIMES THRU BAD SET OF DRUMS ..REPLACED SHOES AND DRUMS, 5TH TIME DODGE REFUSES TO REPLACE ANYTHING DEALER PICKED UP THE TAB TO RESURFACE DRUMS ONLY... THE CLAIM THEY CHECK FOR AXEL RUNOUT AND CHECKED ALL THEY COULD..DODGE WARRENTY FOLKS WON'T EVEN TALK TO BE ABOUT IT OTHER THEN TO SAY "SO SORRY" VERY VERY VERY UPSET MY FIRST DODGE AND MY LAST...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185345March 16, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UPON THE RETURN OF MY 2002 DODGE DAKOTA QUAD CAB FROM DEALER SERVICE, I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SPOT OF GRAY SPRAY PAINT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER FENDER. THINKING THAT SOMEONE HAD ACCIDENTALLY OVERSPRAYED SOMETHING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NEARBY, I 'LET IT GO'. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE SPOT HAD GROWN FROM THE ORIGINAL SIZE (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER) TO ABOUT THREE INCHES ACROSS. THINKING THAT PERHAPS I WAS 'SEEING THINGS', AGAIN, I LET IT GO. HOWEVER, TWO MORE WEEKS PASSED WHEN I STARTED NOTICING THE SAME GRAY COLOR APPEARING THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FENDER AND BEGINNING TO SHOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT FENDER AS WELL. I TELEPHONED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT PAINT / FINISHES WERE NOT WARRANTY ITEMS, AND EVEN IF IT HAD BEEN A WARRANTY ITEM, MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED (NOTE: MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES AT THE TIME). I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ONLINE CUSTOMER SUPPORT REGARDING THE ISSUE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PHYSICALLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE. SOME TIME LATER, I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIFFERENT REPAIR, BUT DID MENTION THE FADING PAINT. I WAS TOLD THEN THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP THAT HAD BODY/PAINT FACILITIES AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. (NOTE: I WAS NOT TOLD THAT WHEN I CALLED ABOUT THE PAINT THE FIRST TIME.) I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP WITH A BODY/PAINT FACILITY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE 'BRUTAL TEXAS SUN' WAS THE CULPRIT - CAUSING MY PAINT TO FADE. (NOTE: MY 1996 GEO PRIZM AND 2000 KIA OPTIMA ARE SUBJECTED TO THE SAME BRUTAL TEXAS SUN, BUT SHOW NO SIGNS OF FADING PAINT.) I WAS TOLD THAT MY CASE COULD BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION, BUT NOT TO EXPECT A POSITIVE RESULT. AS EXPECTED, THOSE WITH AUTHORITY TO APPROVE A REPAIR DENIED IT. AGAIN, I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ONLINE CUSTOMER SUPPORT EXPRESSING MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PAINT, AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT DURING THE ORDEAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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